Marblehead Charter School opens 16th year

MARBLEHEAD – Neighbors of the Marblehead Community Charter School may have heard drums and gunshots this morning – but don?t be concerned.The shots were part of the 7:45 a.m. opening ceremonies as the Grade 4-8 students of the charter school began the school?s 16th academic year, a week ahead of the town?s mainstream schools.Traditionally the students arrive early on their first morning, gather on the playground across the street from the school by class, introduce themselves and line up alphabetically by name.Once all 230 were accounted for, Glover?s Regiment, a local Revolutionary War re-creation group, marched them to the school flagpole with fife and drum and led them in the Pledge of Allegiance as parents looked on.After the pledge, the regiment fired a musket salvo to conclude the ceremony.Inside the building Principal Nina Cullen-Hamzeh welcomed the students back.When they left for class and the first week?s community-building activities, the parents stayed with her for a moment Cullen-Hamzeh refers to as “Kleenex and confetti.”?Some of the parents are sad to see their children go back to school and some celebrate,” she said, chuckling.The parents will have some serious decisions ahead, however. The school still has ideas for the possible use of the additional building space their landlord, Joseph Smullin, offered them last year, even though they decided not to go forward with a third grade expansion plan last year.Just because the charter school started early doesn?t mean the children will get out any earlier next June. The charter school day runs until 3:15 and the school year is 185 days, not 180.Cullen-Hamzeh said the Department of Education would like to see even longer school days and years, something she is familiar with.?I grew up in Jamaica Plain and the schools were open until 9 p.m., with different things for the teens to do,” she said.